Hubcap Clip Replacement

[cycledog]

I finally figured out that the 16" smoothies I rounded up were 30's-40's Mopar. I wanted to run hubcaps but most of the clips were shot. (btw chevy or ford caps will not work). I had gotten some clips from Chevs of the 40's and some VW but wouldn't work.

I finally found the correct clips at Mithchell Motors. If you ever want to replace your clips heres how I did mine.

First step was to powder coat the clips the same color I powdered the wheels.
After a good cleaning in mineral spirits I mounted the clips for coating. Next the bare metal needs to be heated to temp to outgas and burn off contaminates. I had an infrared heater I thought I would try instead of the oven or toaster oven, to my surprise it worked fine for small stuff.

The important thing in powder coating is that the metal needs to hot, not the powder. After the pre heat I shot the powder. The minuet that the object is cool you can work with it, so on to the wheel, I had to replace all five clips on this wheel.

 

[cycledog]

Next order of business is to drill out the old rivets. I used a spring punch to make a starter hole for the drill. I drilled to the point in the second image and used a drift punch to knock out the old rivet. I didn't want to drill too far and take a chance of egging out the hole.

Here are the tools I used, nothing fancy as you can see. Notice the high budget bucking bars I got out of a ditch while walking a rail line hunting Pheasant. I used an air chisel with the appropriate size rivet set.

All five clips replaced ready for the cap. I have some yellow One Shot I will do touch up a coat the rivet head.

 

[cycledog]

Finally the cap securely on the wheel. I ended up relpacing 15 clips. Not a common task but it did the job.

 

[24dodge]

nice caps ! what are they off of ?

 

[cycledog]

nice caps ! what are they off of ?

1939 Dodge. Only year of that style. Don't know if you can tell but there is a Rams head in the center.

 

[24dodge]

now that you say that , I can see it , at first I thought it was the Desoto knight mascot

 

[Gastrick]

Nice info cycledog. I dig your tires too.

 

[rlg0613]

cycledog,

I know it's been a while, but I have 2 questions...

1. I'm not familiar with 'Mithchell Motors'. Can you (or anybody) give me a better contact for them.

2. The rivets. Solid rivets, right? Steel, stainless, aluminium? Did you use 3/16" Dia X 3/8" Len?

Thanks.

Bob

 

[smallfoot]

Nice job on the clips. Makes me want to replace the missing ones on a set of Servicar wheels I have.